CHAPTER XI
IN THE FOG
Completely blinded by the fire from the wounded German birdman, the_Dewey_ now had but one alternative. The approach of other airraiders made it necessary for the submarine to dive away into thedepths to safety. To linger longer on the surface was but to courtthe continued fire of the birdmen overhead who apparently were incensedover the wounding of their companion craft and out for revenge.
Reluctantly, but yielding to his better judgment, McClure gave ordersto submerge. At the same time the damaged periscopes were cut off inthe conning tower to prevent an inflow of water when the ship dived.
"Too bad to quit right now; but it would be folly to stand out underthose deadly bombs any longer," he said.
Fortunately, the _Dewey_ was equipped with reserve periscope tubes,and Lieutenant McClure's plan now was to wait until the convenientdarkness of night had mantled the ocean and then ascend to repair atleisure the damaged "eyes."
"Might as well make ourselves comfortable here awhile under the water,"suggested "Little Mack."
Jean Cartier was instructed to extend himself for the evening mealand to draw on the ship's larder for an "extra fine dinner." It beingthe first night of the _Dewey's_ renewed cruise the ship's galley waswell stocked with fresh foods. Chops, baked potatoes, hot tea andrice pudding represented the menu selected by Jean, and soon the odorof the savory food had every mother's son smacking his lips inanticipation of a luxurious "chow" to top off the exciting events ofthe evening.
Seventy feet below the surface of the water, immune from hostileattacks, officers and crew sat down to the repast as safe and secureas though in a banquet hail on shore. Wit and laughter accompaniedthe courses, and, as the submarine dinner was concluded, Bill Witt'sbanjo was produced. Soon the ship resounded to the "plink-plunk-plink"of the instrument and the gay songs of the jolly submarine sailors.
"If they could only see us now at Brighton!" laughed Ted, as hesurveyed the scene admiringly.
Jack grew reminiscent.
"Remember that last dinner at Brighton?" he asked. "Fellows allwishing us good luck and cheering for us out on the campus? Andgood old 'prexie' declaring he expected to hear great things of hisboys in the war? And all of them standing on the dormitory stepssinging 'Fair Brighton' as we headed for the depot?"
Ted remembered it all now only too plainly. Good old Brighton!Back there now under the oaks on the campus, or up in the dormitories,the boys were assembled again for the fall term.
But this was not the time for backward glances. Grim work lay aheadof them.
An hour later preparations were made to ascend and repair the damagedperiscopes. In response to a query from the ship's commander, SammySmith said he could find no trace of any nearby or approaching vessels,although he had given the submarine telephone its best test.
Gradually the _Dewey_ came to the surface as the ballast tanks wereemptied. The hatch was thrown open and the _Dewey's_ commander raisedhimself to get a line on his surroundings.
A dense fog had commenced to settle over the water, blotting out thestars and making a mist that hung over the sea like a great grayblanket.
"Could not be better for our purposes had it been made to order,"smiled McClure, as he gave orders for the repair crew to haul out thereserve periscopes and get busy.
It was impossible to see more than a hundred yards from the sidesof the _Dewey_ in any direction, and there appeared nothing but therolling swell of the ocean. Nevertheless, overlooking no precaution,McClure gave orders for all lights to be dimmed amidships. In thedarkness the crew went to work to substitute the new "eyes" of theship for the damaged tubes, climbing out on the superstructure andworking energetically.
Just as the forward periscope was being lowered into position andsecured, Commander McClure, supervising the work, was startled by avoice out of the fog, a stentorian challenge through a megaphone, thatseemed almost on top of the submarine.
"What ship is that?" came the call in German.
For a moment it seemed that some one on the deck of the submarine mustbe playing a prank on his friends. But Bill Witt, who was doinglookout duty forward, declared that the cry was right at hand andapparently from the deck of a warship.
Whispering to the repair crew to go quickly below McClure addressedhimself to the unknown voice in his best Deutsch.
"Dis iss das unterseeboot nein und zwanzig."
For a moment there was a deathless silence. Then again the heavy voiceto port:
"You speck not the truth. U-boat 29 is in der Kiel Canal. You areEnglish or Yankee. We call on you to surrender!"
McClure's answer was to slam down the lid of the conning tower and ringfor full speed in the engine room. Instantly he switched the rudderto starboard as the _Dewey's_ propeller blades began to turn.
"Dive!" yelled the commander to his navigating officer, as he himselfslanted the submerging rudders.
Almost at the same moment the German warship's powerful searchlightsturned full upon the American submarine. Then came a great spit offire from a battery aboard the enemy vessel followed by the roar ofher guns and a salvo of shots.
"It's no use, boys," said the submarine commander to his officers."They have us trapped. Unless we surrender here we are going to beblown out of the water in short order. We cannot submerge quickenough to avoid that terrible gunfire."
Again and a shot from the enemy, and this time it struck in the waterjust in front of the conning tower and flung a great spray thatblinded the portholes.
The _Dewey_ was just starting to submerge. With her diving ruddersinclined, the ship was tilted now until her bow pointed downward andher stern reared up out of the water. She was shipping ballast inher tanks rapidly, but the process was necessarily slow and, evenwith her improved equipment, it must be one and a half to two minutesbefore the hull could be submerged, let alone the conning tower.
"Hold her right there!" suddenly shouted the young lieutenant to hisnavigating officer.
The latter was for a moment completely dumbfounded by the order.
"What---you don't mean---why---" he started to say, but instantlywithheld his speech at the frowning face of his superior officer.
"Up with that hatch!" the _Dewey's_ commander thundered, as hisexecutive officer stood aghast at the reckless procedure.
The latter hastened, however, to comply with the order.
"Wainwright!" shouted Lieutenant McClure.
Ted jumped into the conning tower beside his commander.
"You have already shown your bravery," began McClure hurriedly."Here's another test for you. Climb through the conning tower, runforward and dive off the bow. But, first of all, grab a life-beltand strap it to you. Don't ask questions. Have confidence in me.When you get in the water, work your way rapidly around the bowof the _Dewey_ to starboard. Float there in the shadow of our hull.Keep close up. All will be well in a moment."
Obeying orders implicitly, Ted was strapping on the life-preserver.
"Ready?" called McClure.
Ted saluted.
"Right---go!" shouted the commander of the _Dewey_.
Brighton Boys with the Submarine Fleet Page 11
